Leaf Morphological Plasticity of Tree Species from Two Developmental Stages in Araucaria Forest

This study compared the morphological and anatomical variations of the leaves of four shade-tolerant tree species Allophylus edulis (St.-Hil.) Radlk (Sapindaceae), Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Salicaceae), Cupania vernalis Cambess. (Sapindaceae) and Luehea divaricata Mart. (Malvaceae) from a fragment of Araucaria forest in two developmental stages. Morphological and anatomical traits, such as leaf and tissue thickness, leaf area, leaf dry mass, specific leaf area, leaf density and stomata density were measured from 30 leaves of each developmental stage. The phenotypic plasticity index was also calculated for each quantitative trait. The results showed that the four species presented higher mean values ​​for specific leaf area and spongy/palisade parenchyma ratio at young stage, and higher mean values ​​for stomata density, total and palisade parenchyma thickness in the adult stage. The plasticity index demonstrated that L. divricata presented highest plasticity for both the morphological and anatomical traits while A. edulis displayed the lowest plasticity index. The results of this study indicated that the leaves of these species exhibited distinct morphological traits at each stage of development to cope with acting environmental factors.

Fractionation of aquatic humic substances and dynamic of chromium species in an aquatic body influenced by sugarcane cultivation

This study had as main objectiveto evaluate the influence of AHS obtained from an area under sugarcane cultivation on the dynamics of chromium species (Cr(III) and Cr(VI)). Was studied complexing capacity (CC) with the AHS of chromium species and these were characterized using UV/Vis spectrophotometry, molecular fluorescence, elemental analysis and infrared. AHS with and without fractionation showed a greater aromaticity degree and a predominance of humic acids, and the E4/E6 and E2/E4 ratios suggested aromatic rings and a greater contribution from plants, which indicates lignin structures. The highest CCs were observed for the AHS fractionated, being fraction with molecular-size < 10 kDa and 10-30 kDa showed the highest ability to complex Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions, respectively. These results are corroborating with C/H/N and UV/Vis data, where we can conclude that the AHS without fractionation had the greatest aromaticity and a predominance of humic acids in their structure.

Abordagens biossintéticas em piper tuberculatum auxiliada pela síntese de precursores fenilpropanoídicos

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Search for narrow resonances and quantum black holes in inclusive and b-tagged dijet mass spectra from pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Searches for new physics using the t(t)over-bar invariant mass distribution in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Angular analysis and branching fraction measurement of the decay B-0 -> K*(0)mu(+)mu(-)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Functional traits of selected mangrove species in Brazil as biological indicators of different environmental conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Gastroprotective effects (in rodents) of a flavonoid rich fraction obtained from Syngonanthus macrolepsis

Objectives: Syngonanthus macrolepis, popularly known in Brazil as sempre-vivas', is a plant from the family Eriocaulaceae, it is found in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The species contains a variety of constituents, including flavonoids with gastroprotective effect. In this work, a flavonoid-rich fraction (Sm-FRF) obtained from scapes of S.macrolepis was investigated for preventing gastric ulceration in mice and rats.MethodsThe activity was evaluated in models of induced gastric ulcer (absolute ethanol, stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pylorus ligation). The cytoprotective mechanisms of the Sm-FRF in relation to sulfhydryl (SH) groups, nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated.Key findingsThe Sm-FRF (100mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced gastric injury in all models, and did not alter gastric juice parameters after pylorus ligation.ConclusionsThe results indicate significant gastroprotective activity for the Sm-FRF, which probably involves the participation of both SH groups and the antioxidant system. Both are integral parts of the gastrointestinal mucosa's cytoprotective mechanisms against aggressive factors.

Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Phomopsis sp., an Endophytic Fungus from Senna spectabilis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification of Corynebacterium spp. isolated from bovine intramammary infections by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The community-level effect of light on germination timing in relation to seed mass: a source of regeneration niche differentiation

Within a community, species may germinate at different times so as to mitigate competition and to take advantage of different aspects of the seasonal environment (temporal niche differentiation). We illustrated a hypothesis of the combined effects of abiotic and biotic competitive factors on germination timing and the subsequent upscale effects on community assembly. We estimated the germination timing (GT) for 476 angiosperm species of the eastern Tibetan Plateau grasslands under two light treatments in the field: high (i.e. natural) light and low light. We also measured the shift in germination timing (SGT) across treatments for all species. Furthermore, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to test if GT and SGT were associated with seed mass, an important factor in competitive interactions. We found a significant positive correlation between GT and seed mass in both light treatments. Additionally, small seeds (early germinating seeds) tended to germinate later and large seeds (late germinating seeds) tended to germinate earlier under low light vs high light conditions. Low light availability can reduce temporal niche differentiation by increasing the overlap in germination time between small and large seeds. In turn, reduced temporal niche differentiation may increase competition in the process of community assembly.

Estudo fitoquímico de extratos polares e infusão das folhas de Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) e avaliação de suas atividades antiulcerogênica e mutagênica

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Mass occurrence of the cubomedusa Copula sivickisi (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) at Seto Harbor, Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan in summer of 2013, a recent example of global warming

More than 200 very young medusae of Copula sivickisi (Stiasny) were collected within totally 60 minutes at two nights in June, 2013 at the Seto Harbor, Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan. This mass occurrence might be related to recent global warming at Shirahama, known as the northernmost distributional locality of this cubozoan species. It is assumed that the polyp stage of this species may live in the surrounding areas, because there jellyfish were small size (most are less than 1.6 mm height) that was conceivable as the newly released one from the polyp.

Estimativa da divergência entre ecótipos de braquiária baseada em descritores quantitativos e qualitativos

This study aimed to estimate the genetic divergence between Urochloa brizantha ecotypes based on quantitative, qualitative descriptors and their joint analysis to select the promising to release as cultivars of this species. Eight ecotypes (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B8) and cultivar 'Marandu' of U. brizantha were implanted into pickets with 1000m2 each, with two repetitions. Five quantitative descriptors were evaluated [leaf area (ALF), length and width of leaf blades (CLF and LLF, respectively), dry mass (MS), mass of dry matter (MMS) and proportion of leaf blade in MS (PLF)] in two forage samples, being a representative of rainfall, in February 2000, and another in the dry period, in August 2000. It was measured the qualitative descriptors: shear strength (RC), volume of accumulated gas in fast and slow fraction (A and B, respectively), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF ), cellulose (CEL), lignin in sulfuric acid (LIG), silica (SIL) and in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVOMD). There was considerable genetic divergence in U. brizantha ecotypes, especially regarding to quantitative descriptors. Based on the groupings of quantitative, qualitative descriptors and their joint analysis, the grouping containing of B1, B3 and B5 with 'Marandu' can result in promising U. brizantha ecotypes

Effects of uremic solutes on reactive oxygen species in vitro model systems as a possibility of support the renal function management

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)